In a move that surprised many, VR46 Ducati rider Marco Bezzecchi will join the Aprilia factory team in MotoGP for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. This decision comes after the departure of Maverick Vinales and is seen as a strategic move by Aprilia to strengthen their team. The combination of Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin is expected to take Aprilia to the next level, following a successful period of development under the leadership of Aleix Espargaro. Aprilia team boss Massimo Rivola expressed his excitement about Bezzecchi’s arrival, praising the Italian rider’s talent and past performances. The team is confident that this new lineup will have a significant impact on the history of Aprilia Racing.
With Martin already confirmed as the number one rider and Bezzecchi joining him, the Aprilia team for the upcoming season will have a very different look. The team is aiming to go from occasional race winners to serious title contenders. Despite a challenging start to the 2024 season for Bezzecchi, Aprilia has shown confidence in his abilities. It’s worth noting that his current teammate, Fabio Di Giannantonio, has consistently outperformed him this season.
There are only two factory seats remaining on the MotoGP grid for 2025. It is expected that Alex Rins will be retained by Yamaha, leaving only the Honda seat currently occupied by Joan Mir as a possibility. Mir has expressed his dissatisfaction with Honda in the past, but recent rumors suggest that he may extend his contract with the team. This leaves the Ducati and Aprilia seats as the remaining options. Pramac, a second-tier satellite team, is expected to make a decision soon regarding their partnership with Ducati for the 2025 season.
